We recently had a run on twins here at the BoFN. How about twined names.

What’s in a name? A lot if your name is Salman Khan.

If you Google Salman Khan, the first name to rise to the top is Bollywood actor, writer, director, producer, Salman Khan. The man appeared in the top grossing Indian films for nine consecutive years. A feat not yet repeated.

Salman Khan, Bollywood Hottay. Photo courtesy of Bollywoodhungama.com

He won the Filmfare Award—India’s version of the Oscars—for Best Supporting Actor for his extended guest role in the 1998 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I can’t help myself, I have to repeat that off stage several times . . . okay, I’m better now.

By 1995 he starred in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. The film becoming a worldwide hit, garnering $21 million US. And landing on the “Biggest Blockbusters Ever in Hindi Cinema” list. Leading us to 2012 where his sequel film Dabangg 2, produced by younger brother, Arbaaz, grossed $40 million US globally. Now that’s the big dabangg.

His love life is followed by the Indian media like George Clooney’s is in the U.S..

He is single and a body builder, but not without his controversies. Poaching endangered wildlife and negligent driving resulting in manslaughter.

Now if you scan down the Google page one more name, you’ll find Salman Khan, the educator. This former hedge fund analyst and entrepreneur is the founder of the Khan Academy.

Salman Khan, educator. Living in the Big Easy . . . and teaching that way.

From a small office in his home he has produced over 4,800 video lesson teaching a wide range of academic topics. At this point mainly focusing on mathematics and sciences.

And to top it off, in 2010 Google donated $2 million to the Khan Academy to create more courses in more languages and near the same time the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $1.5 million to help the Khan Academy grow as an organization—not just in the small office in the house Salman shares with his wife.

In 2012 Time Magazine named this New Orleans resident in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. And he made a repeat appearance in the April 27/May 4, 2015 special edition of Time Magazine.

As of April 1, 2015, his YouTube channel has attracted more than 2.2 million subscribers. And the Khan Academy videos have been viewed more than 527 million times.

If you visit the Khan Academy’s website you’ll read this:

“You only have to know one thing: You can learn anything. For free. For everyone. Forever.”

I feel smarter already. 🙂

So if you ask me, I’d say Salman Khan, the educator, you win by a TKO. (If you’re not a boxing fan, that’s a Technical Knock Out.)

Yes, I agree. I like the one without the manslaughter charges, bedazzled belt, and embroidered shirt covering what appears to be a strapping, virile chest that could plunge into an ocean to save a drowning lass. I have never heard of either Salman. I think of their names on roll call. Khan, Salmon. Canned salmon, anyone? I prefer kippers. Kipper Kahn! There are two on facebook. Go figure. Now Arbaaz, that’s interesting, too. I bet he doesn’t have as good of hair as his bro.

Educator knocks me out with his smarts and charitable work, yes, Fannie. Agreed. But … I may say that the first, oh, half-mill hits on his YouTube channel may have come from people who came upon that same Google photo you did and thought they were clicking on a Ray Romano stand-up routine. Dead ringer around the eyes!